Manchester United Forced To Make Concessions On Season Tickets

The Office of Fair Trading ordered Manchester United to "revise its season-ticket terms and conditions to make them clearer and fairer for fans'' on Monday, prompting supporters' groups to claim a "significant victory'', but it is clear that the fight to stop the Glazers continuing to hike prices is far from won.
A Department for Culture Media and Sport select committee hearing may be the next battleground.

Manchester United introduced the ACS (Automatic Cup scheme) which often compelled season ticket holders to take and pay for mid week Carling Cup and FA Cup games against lowly opposition where the game normally held little appeal to some fans, or they were just not able to attend. Thus passing on the onus of selling tickets to the fans and not themselves. The English and European champions have agreed to ensure season-ticket holders have "upfront transparency on potential costs to a guarantee of a ticket to all home games in all competitions'', according to the OFT, although really such conditions should be a given, not a privilege, in any season ticket.

United fans had expressed concern over commiting for an unknown amount of cup ties against unknown opposition. Some buyers of "one-year'' season tickets found they were not automatically entitled admission to some cup ties, indeed, in some of the bigger Champions League games they were overlooked completely as United used tickets for these games for Corporate packages which bring in far more cash then your average fan would. . Concessions have now been made by United, who are to abandon single-year deals.

How much pressure the OFT action places on the Glazers to freeze prices for next season is debatable. Having recently released annual accounts revealing United's startling debts, there is a need for the American owners to maximise revenue.

The OFT, though, are happy with its investigation. ''We have worked closely with Manchester United and are pleased that the club has amended its season-ticket terms to the considerable benefit of its fans,'' said Mike Haley, OFT head of consumer protection. "These changes greatly improve the protection for season-ticket holders.''

The OFT told fans groups such as the Manchester United Supporters Trust that there would be "ongoing monitoring to ensure [ticket schemes] are operated fairly in future''. United, though, will feel the OFT judgment is a score draw. Fans' complaints about price increases and the Automatic Cup Scheme were not upheld.

Fans insist these are an "abuse of a dominant market position'' under the Competition Act and pledged to fight on. "We have forced United's hand on a few of their ridiculous policies and this is a win for supporters,'' said a MUST spokesman. "Yet it is only the first step and shows what can be done with supporters working together and not letting the club roll over the fans.''

Clearly, the OFT must keep a sharp eye on the Glazers, a point that will doubtless be made at Westminster if fans have their way. "We are hoping for a DCMS select committee hearing,'' added the MUST spokesman. Given the friends the fans' groups have in Whitehall and Westminster, this hearing should definitely take place.

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'Credit Crunch' Or 'Glazer Crunch' ?

Manchester United are struggling to
fill their corporate boxes at Old
Trafford.

The Daily Mail says United have failed
to sell out all their spaces for the past two
seasons, and interest has nose-dived to
the extent that United sales staff are now
trawling back through a five-year-old box
-holders list to attract new business.

There is plenty of availability for seats in eight different corporate sections
of the ground while a number of four-seater tables, as well as six-seater and
eight-seater boxes, remain unsold.

I checked the prices and nearly had a heart attack !!!

For an 'A' Band game it's £420 per person !!

Going down to £210 for a 'D' Band game, like the Carling Cup.

A United spokesman said: "The credit crunch is affecting United like every
other club."

Dream on !!!! Is it the 'Credit Crunch' or the 'Glazer Crunch' ?

More likely the Glazer Crunch !! They stated it happened last year too,
then the United spokesman blames the credit crunch which wasn't here
last year - what a muppet !!

What Does Marca Really Mean ?

It would seem the good reliable source of footballing news
based in Spain (Marca) are at it again.

They are now reporting, quite confidently, that at the start
of next week negotiations will begin between Real Madrid
and Manchester United over the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Marca are also insisting that the information came from a
source close to the Glazer family insisting they had been
told the Glazers "have agreed to the operation".

A family spokesman for the Glazers actually went to M.E.N
Sport to put the record straight saying

“It is absolute nonsense. The family completely
maintains their original stance and that is that
Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale.

"There have been no developments as far as we are concerned. There has been
absolutely nothing said from this end.”

On top of the fact he is not for sale there has also been rumours spreading from the Real Madrid
dressing room of discontent at the amount of money Ronaldo will be earning if he does go there.
If the guys are getting restless now when the news is just idle rumour, imagine the uproar if he
did go turn up - on £200,000 a week !!

It seems Wesley Schneider is the starter of these rumours of unrest:

“It would be bad for the dressing room because he would earn better wages than
the rest of the squad,” said Sneijder. “It wouldn’t be a problem to me but some
team-mates wouldn’t fancy it. Here we have players like him, Arjen Robben and
Robinho for example.

“For sure I want to play with Cristiano but the dressing room’s harmony has to be
maintained,” Sneijder added.

“For me, this Madrid side do not need new signings,” said Sneijder.

“In the last few matches last year we were very solid and the team have grown a
lot.”

This whole episode is becoming a thorn in the side of so many people. I can't understand why he
didn't just wait two years when he would be halfway through his contract and then broker a deal.

This is just causing unrest and upset in too many corners.

If he does stay however, he needs to stay strong because I have visions of Pete Boyle turning up
at Old Trafford with a good few songs about slaves to taunt him with !!!

So what does Marca really mean - Member of the Assembly of Ridiculous Chatting Ass...........

Hmmmmm .... maybe !!